I'm going to try Windows Vista again.

[zekrahminator]

Update: I'd like to apologize to Microsoft for being so hasty. You might not need a dual core processor to run Vista well . Apparently Creative (who made my sound card) needs to work on their Vista drivers. I'm going to install UT2004 w/o sound driver installed. If it runs well, I'll buy an Audigy/ wait for Creative to get better drivers. If it doesn't, then, maybe it's a combination of bad drivers and a hippo of an OS.

 

[zekrahminator]

Yeah, Creative definitely needs to work on their sound drivers, I uninstalled everything related to my sound card on Vista and everything works almost like XP (maybe even better, Vista DOES have DX10 .). I also reinstalled the latest ones off the website, and they're working. So yeah, I think I may not use XP for a long time . New reccomended system requirements according to me-
3Ghz processor or AMD equivalent
1GB DDR400 RAM with CAS2.5 or less
80 GB SATA hard drive
Recent Intel/AMD motherboard (Socket T/939/M2)
Any high-end DX9 GPU
Soundcard made by anyone except for Creative .
DVD-RW.

 

[strick94u]

yup that system checker thing tell's the whole story very little of what I own did not require drivers from companys that have never gotten thier xp drivers right.Vista was a car in the late 80's early 90's that was a pile of crap made by mitisubishi for dodge

 

[zekrahminator]

Alright, I think that Vista needs a little bit of help updating its own registry...I uninstall UT GOTY, and when I go to reinstall it, all the folders that were there before were there. That's probably also why I need admin permission twice to do a "file operation" (AKA empty the trash.), and I can't delete files that really aren't there. Oh well, I hope Microsoft fixes this before the final release...or maybe it will come in a service pack like everything in Windows XP . Edit: I think that it would be a bit easier for Microsoft if they just programmed Vista to upgrade the registry every "file operation" instead of "every few hours" lol. Or maybe it DOES upgrade the registry every file operation, but not every time I press the delete key counts as a file operation, confusing Vista. THAT would make sense...we'll see.

 

[strick94u]

Went out tonight to see if anyone has a vista ready pc for sale hehe much to my non surprise 0 ............. have you got it to dual boot with linux yet?

 

[zekrahminator]

I don't have a copy of linux to dual boot it with . I would love the opportunity to though...just need to move some partitions around with software I don't have . I'll let you know if I do, but right now, tri-booting Vista Beta 2, XP Home SP2, and 2000 Professional works fine.

 

[Alec§taar]

I don't have a copy of linux to dual boot it with . I would love the opportunity to though...just need to move some partitions around with software I don't have . I'll let you know if I do, but right now, tri-booting Vista Beta 2, XP Home SP2, and 2000 Professional works fine.

Sounds like they stopped one of the "major complaints" I heard in last round's testers, of them being unable to "dual boot" even to OTHER Microsoft Windows NT-based OS!



* Good news - that's one they've GOT to attend to, & one of their "hallmark" features (almost tradition, if not so, since the DOS days)...

Overall, given your system specs? How does it perform??

APK

P.S.=> Can you play around with some of the colors, & perhaps the entire THEME used there? I liked the screenshot you did, & wonder - is their some "flexibility" there in the beta in regards to that part (colors/themes)??

Just curious!

I would like to see Explorer.exe in motion there for instance & maybe the control panel, albeit in a diff. theme if possible & if you don't mind - also, if possible?? One of those nifty new "alt+tab" Windows tiled if you would, that imo, looks WAY cool... tia! apk

 

[Jimmy 2004]

I'll give this one another try sometime to see if the bootloader is sorted...

 

[zekrahminator]

Once I got my soundblaster drivers sorted out, I absolutely love the general experience of Vista. The operating system has almost infinite potential. The only problem is, it has a few registry bugs, so when I delete folders the system will still think they are there, and make me recreate them instead of just accepting that they are deleted...and Vista is a much better multitasker. There really is only one "Vista" theme, but you can play with the colors if you want. Given my system specs, Vista is a hog, but in a year, what's considered "high end" will be considered "mainstream", so I don't think Microsoft is asking too much. I'll have the alt-tab screenshot for you later.

 

[Alec§taar]

Once I got my soundblaster drivers sorted out, I absolutely love the general experience of Vista. The operating system has almost infinite potential.

I got the word on soundblaster drivers from other threads here - good luck on that. What is happening to you that you do not like those?

(Pretty odd, because Creative Labs Soundblaster is like "THE" std. out there for sound, or it used to be... strange MS doesn't @ least have a 'generic' one that works!)

The only problem is, it has a few registry bugs, so when I delete folders the system will still think they are there, and make me recreate them instead of just accepting that they are deleted...

NOW, that, sounds interesting and odd @ the same time! What folders, specifically? Maybe I can help here??

and Vista is a much better multitasker.

Well, I know from readings about its architecture & changes MS is working on elsewhere (not here, up @ MS), that from this thread where folks are talking about L2 CPU onboard cache memory:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=110968#post110968

That Microsoft has been working on API's that make multitasking better via working on HOW your CPU & OS coordinate to use data BETTER that is in the L2 cache, and to optimize how the OS uses it & keeps data in or out of it.

There really is only one "Vista" theme, but you can play with the colors if you want. Given my system specs, Vista is a hog, but in a year, what's considered "high end" will be considered "mainstream", so I don't think Microsoft is asking too much.

That is a pretty high recommendation imo, but I don't doubt you for a second on it. Nice to hear you enjoy using it & like it.

I'll have the alt-tab screenshot for you later.

That'd be VERY cool!

(As I really like those (neat feature imo, albeit even if it is only "eye-candy" really))...



APK

 

[zekrahminator]

The soundblaster drivers being buggy was just Creative being lazy. The registry thing applies to ALL folders, nothing that can just be fixed by a little tweaking. For example. I uninstall UT GOTY, the game will still appear in the add/remove programs list, the various file types for the game will still be recognized, and most of the files in the game folder remain untouched. This is bad when trying to reinstall a game, because Windows Vista doesn't eliminate everything that could be causing the problem during uninstallation. And to be honest, I never really figured out how to get all the windows to twist around in crazy 3D landscapes. But Microsoft did put an interesting feature having to do with Alt-tab, I'll still post a screenshot.

 

[Alec§taar]

The soundblaster drivers being buggy was just Creative being lazy.

Probably playing "catch up ball" here is all, still, it is ODD Ms' didn't make one "temporarily" that works @ least (kind of like how native NVidia or ATI drivers picked up on work in 2000/XP/Server 2003)...

The registry thing applies to ALL folders, nothing that can just be fixed by a little tweaking. For example. I uninstall UT GOTY, the game will still appear in the add/remove programs list, the various file types for the game will still be recognized, and most of the files in the game folder remain untouched. This is bad when trying to reinstall a game, because Windows Vista doesn't eliminate everything that could be causing the problem during uninstallation.

Sounds like a Windows Installer 3.x Service problem - they will work this one out too, by tracing filesystem/disks/registry activities & see where the 'hangup' is.



(Should NOT be "tough" to fix imo @ least).

And to be honest, I never really figured out how to get all the windows to twist around in crazy 3D landscapes. But Microsoft did put an interesting feature having to do with Alt-tab, I'll still post a screenshot.

Windows Key + Tab iirc, is what does the "new 3d display stays LIVE, alt+tab"...

APK

P.S.=> On a "side note", albeit diff. site, but imo a related one? Here is Anandtech's review:

http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=2780

apk

 

[zekrahminator]

Well considering that I have no idea how the registry works, it would be tough for me to fix . Anyways, I'm having problems with the image loader, I'll let you know when I have the picture for you.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Ok, I'm now going to try it again! Now I've got a faster graphics cards I'm going to move a few of my games that run really smooth on high graphics from my secondary drive onto my system disk to free up a few GB of space. Then I can install Vista at the end of the second drive (I know it might be a little slower, but it's my only option) as well as keeping Ubuntu and then I shouldn't need to use the Vista bootloader because both OSes will be on different drives! But I've given away my Vista DVD so I'm going to have to download it again . Oh well, at least I have 4 product keys! (and if you didn't know I think each one can be used on up to ten machines!)

 

[zekrahminator]

Well good luck with that, you will DEFINITELY enjoy having the dual disks for booting. Makes thing's a lot easier lol. I think you're gonna run Vista about as well as I do...and remember, most of the bugs are in Windows Installer, the registry, and sound card drivers. ATI's Vista driver is JUNK, such junk in fact that my next uber-GPU is going to be from Nvidia. We should find out if there's a big difference running Vista with 1GB of RAM or 2GB of RAM, I doubt it considering that my games don't suffer too much of a performance hit from XP to Vista. Basically, if I wanted to upgrade my machine to be super-powerful with Vista, I'd need an A64 X2 (selling my 3800+ Venice.), 2GB of RAM (selling my 1GB mixed brand RAM.), and a DX10 GPU (I wonder what Nvidia has up their sleeves, but I'll be selling my X850XT with ATISilencer5 to afford it.). But hey that's not supposed to discourage you, I'm just saying that's what I'd need to make my system run Vista EXTREMELY well, so that I could be Halo 2 gauranteed . Vista runs fine on my current specs.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Still downloading... done 89% now so only got 40mins left. Can't wait until my connection gets upgraded to 8meg.

 

[Alec§taar]

Still downloading... done 89% now so only got 40mins left. Can't wait until my connection gets upgraded to 8meg.

Jim - you were the fellow w/ the dualboot hassles using VISTA in previous beta builds, right?

(Let us know if this build fixed that for you, I am curious in that regard...)

APK

 

[Alec§taar]

Windows VISTA update (new one, 1 of 2 I know of)

See subject-line/title, & this excerpt + d/l URL:

"Install this update to fix an issue where in the presence of Internet Protocol security (IPsec) or Windows Firewall, a race condition can be hit on multi-processor (or hyper-threaded) systems causing memory corruption, leading to a system crash. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer."

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ec-6a31-46a6-8238-dff1b2eb2025&DisplayLang=en



There was a PREVIOUS single update/hotfix for VISTA, but it probably was "rolled into" this latest release, so I would not worry too much about it -> Here was its URL below to read on it:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1911406,00.asp

& here is its download area @ MS:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...dc-7148-4002-86bb-e4ade080ea86&displaylang=en

APK

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Jim - you were the fellow w/ the dualboot hassles using VISTA in previous beta builds, right?

(Let us know if this build fixed that for you, I am curious in that regard...)

APK

Yes, I think this is probably the same build as I had before though because M$ won't let me get at the new one yet.

I'm trying a different setup this time which should bypass the bootloader which I was having trouble with hopefully. And this keyboard keeps missing letters I type, sounds like it's time for new batteries.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

An update: well I'd like to say hello to an old friend who is making a strong comeback (especially with drivers): The blue screen of death! (perhaps they could have changed the colour this time round?!)

Anyway, I think Vista didn't like my old graphics card because I had no bootloader problems this time round! However, Vista wasn't happy being on a separate drive so it decided to take over the XP bootloader anyway, so I'm going to have fun trying to get Ubuntu back onto that list.

Anyway, I managed to disable some (well most) vista services and have it nearly down to an acceptable level of ram consumption. Drivers are a real problem though, get blue screens just opening pages in device manager sometimes so I'll need to work on that. How do you enable the cool alt-tab thing by the way?

 

[Vrgn86]

An update: well I'd like to say hello to an old friend who is making a strong comeback (especially with drivers): The blue screen of death! (perhaps they could have changed the colour this time round?!)

Anyway, I think Vista didn't like my old graphics card because I had no bootloader problems this time round! However, Vista wasn't happy being on a separate drive so it decided to take over the XP bootloader anyway, so I'm going to have fun trying to get Ubuntu back onto that list.

Anyway, I managed to disable some (well most) vista services and have it nearly down to an acceptable level of ram consumption. Drivers are a real problem though, get blue screens just opening pages in device manager sometimes so I'll need to work on that. How do you enable the cool alt-tab thing by the way?

The way to get the "cool alt-tab thing" is "Ctrl+WindowsKey+TAB" and have a few windows open for it to use. I don't seem to be having the driver probs you are. Just not happy about not having OpenGL support in this build.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Thanks, I'll be trying to fight the driver problems tomorrow and tonight but I'll be away over the weekend and I doubt I'll get it sorted by then.

Edit: found the problem is not with drivers but with trying to read from my DVD-RW drive

 

[zekrahminator]

Yeah, Vista has the CRAZIEST driver issues, you'd never guess which one was causing the problems. I reccomend that you try to find the Vista drivers off websites (and hope the manufacterors weren't too lazy making them .) . I hate ATI's current Vista driver, I don't get to play with AA/AF, and all it does is increase lag. Can't go back to the Microsoft driver either...the uninstaller freezes, thanks to Windows installer 3 problems. I'm on XP right now, learning to enjoy my system before I have to do an insane upgrade.

 

[zekrahminator]

Alright guys, it took some effort to get this pic, but here you go!

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Well the Ctrl-Windows Key-Tab thing just hangs my PC, could be a bad install because it should be more than capable of it, but I like the way you have UT at the front!